Velma Hebert Interview 7/29/92

Velma was baptized by Rev. McCoy in 1921. She joined the church when she was 12. That day she joined was Rev. Andrews last Sunday at the church.

Bible school was held at the MacDonell School. Deaconesses there helped to teach. The MacDonell students would walk to the Red Brick Church for worship services.

The early schedule was Sunday school – church – Epworth League – church. They also had a prayer meeting on Wednesday nights.

Rev. Booth was a “tearful preacher.” He used stories about his wife that she might have gotten mad at. He had two sons. One of them (Luther) became a minister but died young. He also had a daughter (Ruth), but she died young.

Velma used to play with Rev. George’s kids.

There were 2 adult Sunday school classes, one in French and one in English. The French class was held in the front vestibule of the church.

The ladies Sunday school class met at Wurzlow Florist, behind the church facing Goode Street. The men’s class met at Thatcher Hotel. It was taught by Mr. Butler.

Rev. Tarver was also a tearful preacher. His wife Velma seemed to be the power behind the throne. She was a good speaker and was the counselor to the youth. Rev. Tarver was not the best speaker. She remembered him as the ‘poet’ … he was always reciting poetry and sounded effeminate. They had no children. After he left Houma, he joined the military.

Rev. Elwyn Chaney was the good looking pastor. The ladies used to attend church to see him.

Rev. Albert Hurley was educated and endearing. He had bad eyesight, so his wife did the driving. She was very helpful and could play the piano. Rev. Hurley walked to visit every member each week. The parsonage was on High Street at that time. He had a great memory. His eyesight kept getting worse, but his memory was so good you couldn’t tell when he was preaching. He later returned to the church to speak (during Rev. Galloway’s years) and brought papers up with him. Velma found out later that it was just scribbly lines.

Mrs. Thatcher had the cutest hats. She led the choir.

After the war, a Quonset hut was placed at the side of the church and used as a fellowship hall. Every Friday night a supper was held. There was entertainment. They even had square dancing, though at least on member (Hayes Marcel) was upset by this. They also had talent night.

According to Velma, Rev. Hardy thought we were peons. He didn’t prepare his sermons and wore a frock tail coat.

When the church said “we need a leader,” Rev. Sam Nader arrived. He could really get people to give money. His arrival brought an end to the fire & brimstone type of sermon. After his sermons, you felt challenged. He brought the gospel down to the everyday level. He preached a lot on Paul and liked to put in modern references – such as ‘Paul piked up his Parker 51 and wrote …’. He preached a sermon in which he advocated putting a room in the new church tower; Mrs. Patterson later paid for that to be done; Rev. Galloway and Rickey used that room also. If you weren’t at church, Rev. Nader would call you that afternoon. He took a personal interest in people’s lives. He even helped get Blue (Velma’s husband) a job. When there wasn’t enough room for building drive dinners, he broke down the walls of the Sunday school to make room for tables. He was always working, but he always had time for everyone. He brought out the best in people. There were a lot of active young coupl
es at that time. Rev. Nader is the one that pushed for the statue in front of the church, even though some members didn’t want it. Rev. Nader left in 1956 because the bishop needed him elsewhere.

In 1956, Velma was working at MacDonell when Rev. Nader asked her to be the church secretary. She always ended up doing bulletins on Saturday nights.

Rev. Galloway replaced the popular Rev. Nader in 1956. His wife Eloise told him to be himself and not try to be Sam. He was educated and businesslike. She remembers that he preached too long. One member, “Duck” Marcel, would say “man he took the full load today.” Rev. Galloway was methodical and stuck to his schedule, and he took everything seriously. He stood behind what he believed. He also taught square dancing.

Rev. Rickey was not remembered as the most endearing man. His wife was fragile and his grown kids never visited. His sermons were shorter than Galloway’s, but he was an average speaker. He was known for putting people on the church rolls after merely talking to them. He had associate pastor Robertson make X number of visits per week. Rev. Robertson, who arrived right out of seminary, preached on Sunday nights. Both of his kids were born while he served here. He used to sit his baby in his desk drawer.

Rev. Douglas didn’t really want to come here. It seemed he had a chip on his shoulder. He had nervous problems and didn’t relate well to the board members. He was later joined by associate pastor Autrey, but they didn’t work out.

THAT’S ALL I’LL PUT, SINCE WE’RE GETTING INTO MORE RECENT TIMES AND LIVING INDIVIDUALS.